Werner J Pichler, MD
ADR-AC
Holligenstr 91
3008 Bern
Switzerland
e-mail: werner.pichler@adr-ac.ch
Keywords: drug allergy; anaphylaxis; immediate drug reaction; specific IgE; hapten; covalent bonds; adducts; non-covalent bindings; fake antigen
Abbreviations: antigen-presenting cell: APC; basophil activation test: BAT; dendritic cell: DC; drug hypersensitivity reactions: DHR; fake antigen reactions: FAR; high affinity receptor for IgE: FcεRI; human leukocyte antigens: HLA; human serum albumin: HSA; mast cell: MC; neuromuscular blocking agents/muscle relaxants: NMBA; Proton pump inhibitor: PPI; radiocontrast media: RCM; sulfamethoxazole: SMX; T cell receptor for antigen: TCR
Word count: 3574
Acknowledgments: the author thanks Ulrika Axius, Yvonne Hari, Oliver Hausmann, Lukas Jörg, Nicole Müller, Florian und Juliane Pichler, Gregor Porebski, Ulrich Weber-Mani, Daniel Yerly for inspiring discussions and Katja Martin for help in preparing the figures and text.